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Liverpool head coach Arne Slot(Image: Getty Images)

Arne Slot will be front and centre in front of the media at the AXA Training Centre from 9am on Tuesday morning as the Liverpool boss previews Wednesday night's visit from Everton.

The Reds boss might theoretically be in place to talk through his pre-match thoughts ahead of his first Merseyside derby at Anfield but there will inevitably be a whole host of other topics to chat about as the Premier League leaders look to take another giant stride towards a second title in five years.

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Liverpool need just 16 points from a remaining 27 to be crowned champions of England for a 20th time and Slot will no doubt have a lot to talk about as the Reds prepare to resume action for the first time since that Carabao Cup final loss to Newcastle United on March 16.



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Here's what the agenda might look like when Slot speaks to a whole host of publications that, of course, will include the ECHO on Tuesday morning.

Alexander-Arnold latest

The topic of Trent Alexander-Arnold's long-term future is almost certainly going to feature prominently on Tuesday morning.

Last week, it was widely reported that Real Madrid had stepped up their interest in the Reds' vice captain as they seek to bring him to the Spanish capital on a free transfer.

Alexander-Arnold is into the final few months of his Anfield contract and has been courted by the La Liga and Champions League holders for some time, with Liverpool turning down a speculative approach before the January transfer window had even opened.

It was reported that a £20m offer was on the table but it's understood the talks didn't even progress that far with Liverpool have no thoughts of offloading such a key asset at the midway point of a campaign that saw them going for the title they are now on the brink of clinching.

So far there has been little clarity on the reports from either club or the player's camp but Slot will be asked if he can provide any updates on the situation as the speculation continues to rage.

Slot will no doubt play down the reports, despite the links intensifying during the international break, but the Liverpool head coach's response will be fascinating, however he handles what has become the major talking point at Anfield since the most recent fixture.

Contracts update?

Bleeding nicely into that will be the potential for an update on any of those who will be out of contract at the end of the season.

Captain Virgil van Dijk gave a couple of updates of sorts in the week of the Champions League defeat to Paris Saint-Germain and Carabao Cup final loss to Newcastle United, insisting he was still in the dark as to how the situation would resolve itself.

Mohamed Salah, meanwhile, has been somewhat less vocal over his own terms in recent months but both players remain without shiny new contracts at the respective ages of 33 and 32.

Slot has continued to keep a firm grip on the curtain over the long-standing contracts issue but with April now upon us, some further insight might be forthcoming.

The head coach wants both to stay on Merseyside but there have been precious little signs of a breakthrough on either deal.

Gravenberch concerns?

Ryan Gravenberch was sent home from the Netherlands squad before the first leg of their UEFA Nations League quarter-final with Spain.

The Dutch FA said the Reds star was "still suffering from an injury sustained over the weekend (against Newcastle)" and he was dispatched back to Merseyside and into the care of Liverpool's medical team.

It was thought at the time that the issue was merely precautionary and the hope is that former Bayern Munich man has been suitably rested during the break, where he was able to take a short holiday to recharge ahead of a critically-important period.

Gravenberch has been outstanding for Slot but recent weeks have seen questions of fatigue creep into the discourse.

Slot will be able to firm up the condition of his fellow Dutchman.

Walking a tightrope

February's Merseyside derby cost Slot a pretty penny, with the Reds coach fined £70,000 for his post-match interaction with referee Michael Oliver.

James Tarkowski's last-gasp volley saved a point for David Moyes's side in the final meeting between the local rivals at Goodison Park, ensuring a wild fallout at full-time whistle as a result.

After Curtis Jones clashed with Abdoulaye Doucoure - which earned both men a red card - Slot was seen in conversation with Oliver, to which it was later claimed he said: "If we don’t win the league, I’ll f***ing blame you."

Slot has generally proven to be a tough man to get under the skin of during his media dealings but the white-hot nature of a Merseyside derby can unsettle even the most composed and it will be interesting to hear what lessons, if any, he has learned from his first taste of a fixture he will come to be a regular of in the years to come.

Conor Bradley fitness

With Trent Alexander-Arnold and Joe Gomez sidelined for this one, an update on Conor Bradley is likely as the Northern Ireland international battles to return to full fitness sooner rather than later.

It's been around six weeks since Bradley limped out of the 2-2 draw with Aston Villa and with Jarell Quansah, the fourth-choice right-back, currently deputising in a position that is not his natural one, the returns of Alexander-Arnold and Bradley cannot come soon enough.

A positive update on Bradley would be a welcome one ahead of a huge run-in, particularly with Alexander-Arnold still thought to be a few weeks away from his own comeback.

Alisson Becker situation

The condition of Alisson Becker is expected to form part of the conversation.

The Brazil international goalkeeper suffered a concussion during the international break after a clash with Colombia's Davinson Sanchez and sat out the Argentina game that followed, where the Selecao were beaten 4-1 by the World Cup holders in a fixture known as the Superclasico.

Alisson did update on his own social media channels last week, insisting he was "fine" and simply having to "follow the protocols" that come with concussion injuries for players, which sees them removed from the immediate game that follows.

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Alisson, who was in training on Monday, is expected to be cleared to feature against the Blues but Slot will be in place to offer a more fulsome update on Tuesday.


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